I would like to start a thread about the current state of paddles, in the world of HD playing.

Here is what I know about the state of paddles as of Nov 3, 2018:

I would be really great if someone would report on the paddle functionality of the Retron77.

AtGames manufactured paddles, wired:

AtGames sells Atari replica paddles on their web site for $29.95 plus shipping. I own these paddles, they feel great and work perfectly with the 2600 and Flashback 8. As per the AtGAmes website they are compatible with many other flashbacks, but not the Flashback 9.

AtGames manufactured paddles, for Atari Bast vol 3, wireless:

These paddles will only sync to the enclosed dongle. They feel and work very nice. Unfortunately this dongle game system has many problems. I owned one, then returned it to Walmart.

Problems:

Sound: sometimes there would be no sound

Sound: when the sound worked is was horrible. Pong with bad sound is not worth playing.

Play: this system lacks difficulty left, and difficulty right switches. According to the AtGamesBlast web site the controller has difficulty switches, but in truth it does not!

Game selection: there are only 13 cartridges emulated on the dongle, not 20 as advertised.

3 and 4 player games, according to my correspondence with AtGames if you want to play simultaneous 3 or 4 player games (black jack, video Olympics, warlords) a special set of paddles, made by AtGames, must be used, unfortunately AtGames sells no such paddles.

Flashback 8

Pros:

Paddle games on this system work great, no lag, nice game selection

Flashback 8 works with original Atari paddles and the AtGames paddles

Cons:

The Flashback 8 system can not play cartridges or additional games via SD card slot.

Flashback 9 (Paddles will not work with this system)

Problems:

According to a Youtube video posted by, "John Hancock" paddles do not work with this system.

John Hancock states in this video that AtGames will release special compatible paddles. There is no mention of this on the AtGames website or in the intructions included with the Flashback 9 system.

Flashback 9 Gold (Paddles will not work with this system)

This system has a dedicated paddle games menu!

I own this system here are the Problems I found:

Original Atari paddles do not work on this system.

AtGames Atari replica paddles do not work on this system.

The enclosed paper instructions simply state, "Please plug your paddle controllers into each controller port on the game console." This does not work.

SD card paddle games do not work

Before playing a paddle game there are instructions on the screen to plug the paddles into the console after the game starts, still the paddles do not work.

This is a big disappointment, the paddle games worked great on the Flashback 8.

Hopefully AtGames will release download to fix this problem.

There is no mention of special compatible paddles on the AtGames website.

There is no mention of special compatible paddles on the Flashback 9 Gold instruction sheet.

"Because the new paddles for the Atari Flashback 9 use a new, more precise technology, the previous generation and original Atari paddles are incompatible with the Atari Flashback 9. Paddles for the Flashback 9 console will be available early 2019."

"Because the new paddles for the Atari Flashback 9 use a new, more precise technology, the previous generation and original Atari paddles are incompatible with the Atari Flashback 9. Paddles for the Flashback 9 console will be available early 2019."

Good to know there is finally some word on the paddles. I'd assume the change in tech is causing the delay. I wonder if the price point will remain the same or increase.

I was hoping the blast paddles would suffice for the time being to play some of these in HD but unfortunately the OP is not the only one I've heard poor things about this unit.

If you are a DYIer, then you can rebuild an Atari Flashback models 3-8 and purchase a Raspberry Pi 3 and the Ultimate Flashback Interface Board and I can help you via PM to get the Atari FB buttons and switches to be functional.

If you are not much of a DYIer, then you can put the Raspberry Pi into a standard case, then you can purchase the 2600-daptor II or the 2600-dapter D9 and the paddles are supported - in this scenario you will need a USB keyboard attached to the Pi to replicate the buttons/switches of the Atari console.

For the Raspberry Pi, you would download RetroPie and install the Stella emulator (be forewarned that there are many smaller steps that have been glossed over)

If you are not familiar with RetroPie, then we can help with that, too.